Published: June 17, 2009 08:03 am      

OH GOOD GREIF: County loses two gems in Sam Hicks, John Dishman

Cumberland County lost two gems recently - Sam Hicks and John Dishman.

Sam was a longtime golf professional at Lake Tansi and Dripping Springs (now Cumberland Cove), while John was a longtime deputy with the Cumberland County sheriff's department and worked for awhile with the Crossville Police Department.

My condolences go out Sam's family, who have been friends of mine since I came here in 1982. Sammy and Tony have been involved in golf for many years, while daughter and son-in-law Linda and John Saylors have been involved in education for a long time. His grandson, Scott, was a member of the Jet basketball team.

Sammy, Tony and Linda have another sister, Donna Poling.

John Dishman was honored by the East Tennessee Chapter of the National Football Hall of Fame last year for his support of athletics in Cumberland County. He did the PA for both CCHS and Stone Memorial. Eric and Allison were both involved with the Jet football program for several years.

My condolences also go Eric, Allison and Molly.

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I want to wish former CCHS Coach Scott Eggleston good luck, as he was named basketball coach at South-Doyle High School in Knoxville. He brought some enthusiasm to the CCHS program, including two-straight appearances in the Region 3AAA Tournament.

Good luck to former SMHS assistant coach Jeff Hanlon, who was named head coach at Oakdale High School.

When something bad happens, there is always something good to counter it.

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A news flash from the links reports Johnny Inman has defeated Tracy Graham - twice - in some recent competition.

Greg Wyatt of Golf Capital of Tennessee Learning Center shot a one-under-par 71 to tie Mike Dunn for fourth place in the Chattanooga Chapter of TPGA Pro Am at Black Creek Golf Club.

Kip Henley, former Big Break champion and caddie for professional Brian Gay, is on his way to Bethpage Black in New York for this weekend's U.S. Open, after Gay won the St. Jude Memphis Classic.

Kip's brother, Brent, caddies for Woody Austin.

Currently, Gay is fourth in the FedEx Cup points race with 1,468 points, while Austin is 52nd with 1,102 points. Zach Johnson leads with 1,609 points, according to PGA Tour.com.

According to the PGA Tour, Gay has $2,740,535, while Austin has $833,308. I have to give some credit to Henley brothers for that.

Gay tees off at 2:20 p.m. EDT Thursday and at 8:50 a.m. Friday. Austin was listed in the U.S. Open Field.

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Our neighbor to the west, Cookeville, was awarded the TSSAA football championship games for 2009 and 2010. The Class A, AA, AAA, AAAA, AAAAA, AAAAAA and the two Division II contests will be held at Tennessee Tech's Tucker Stadium over a three-day period. Cookeville outbid Murfreesboro and Chattanooga for the contests.

Ed Greif is the Crossville Chronicle sports editor, and his column appears periodically.